weekly preview

man, i just realized that it was art hop & post art hop this week. rademacher has been playing a residency down in l.a., so i'm imagining they'll be sorta polished & ready. not sure who's playing with them, but we'll see.

i think i'll be out art hopping this month. there is at least one show i want to see - there's some cool looking stuff at the k-jewel gallery.

before thursday, well, it's pub quiz on wednesday. big jackpot this week, and i think 1/5 odds of winning it. last week we had our highest attended week with 120 players & 25 teams. i would be it will be similar this week. i advise people to show up early to get a seat.

after thursday, well who know what the week will bring. hopefully the weather will be nice (i've been out of town the last two weekends, and the weather @ both locales was awesome. don't do me wrong, fresno.)

post art hop show at tokyo garden

it feels like it's been quite some time since i've been to a post art hop show. honestly, i probably haven't been since november, or maybe december. so, tonight i'm excited to get out and go. and it'll be a good one.



rademacher
light fm
jonah and the whale
$5

july art hop

Pizza.
Paintings.
Pints.
All Free*.

Milano restaurant - 1243 Fulton Mall






*free is relative. you're free to look at and enjoy the paintings, and even free to purchase them. the pizza, well there will be free pizza while supplies last. then you can buy some. the pints, from the get go you're free to purchase that.

october archop

"...an exhibit of artwork by architects and architectural work by artist, these works are linked by inspiration and process with a focus on form, light and texture."

so, i broke off a quick trip to arc-hop tonight. mainly, it's because my chum was showing 2 pieces. there were some nice paintings, but overall i felt the show was underwhelming, it didn't seem to stick to the idea that they wanted, and the large scrap sheet metal wall that was erected in the middle of the room distracted from the good art all around.

there was some art done by architects. and, there were a few structural/architectural work done by artists. but most of it was just artwork. some of it very nice artwork, but didn't fit well at all with the theme of the show. really, very little of the art done by the artists had any relation to architecture, in my opinion.

good idea, poor delivery.

september art hop

ah, the first art hop of the school year. city college students are out en masse viewing art as an assignment. i managed to actually motivate myself out of the house to see what other local artists are up to.

aurora, who i met @ my show @ cafe corazon, has a pretty cool show up over @ cafe corazon. she even got some good beehive press, as well as an article over on famous. some of my favorite pieces are drawn on the back of fresno post cards and look like a deck of cards but w/different hairstyles on them. she's get a good amount of work, mostly mixed media, that will be up all september.

over @ the cultural arts building on broadway i saw a few pieces that caught my eye, and it seemed that there were some new artists working in the space. one artist in particular reminded me of the work of another local artist. whatever, that doesn't help you at all.

i also checked out the more established spots and was really impressed w/one piece over at gallery 25. on the eastern wall there are several pieces, but one stands out. i admired it for a bit at a distance, and then moved in to see who the artist was. the name: l.k. papadakis. if you remember, i was moved by her work before, and did a little write up in january. assuming l.k. stands for linda kay, i really think she may fresno artist going right now. at least of ones that i've seen. i sort of want to meet her at a show and pick her brain a bit.

it's almost about time to head off for the post art hop show @ tokyo.

free wine

that's right, i'll be serving wine tonight @ my art hop show. can't say that it will be expensive wine, but it'll be palatable.

i'll be showing 9 pieces. they're all pieces that i'm proud of, that i enjoyed working on, and that i'd be willing to part with for the right price.

come one, come all.

thursday, may 1 (tonight!)
art hop reception
5-8 pm
severance building - tower district
1401 n. wishon, at floradora

art
free wine (and i think some appetizers, too)
me
conversation

may day is on the way

it's sunday night, but i'm already thinking of thursday. which, can sometimes be a bit problematic to be thinking that far ahead. you miss things. but, why am i thinking about thursday? two reasons:

art hop. i'm showing again. and, i'm trying to have mostly different stuff up than i currently have @ cafe corazon (crap, i need to take down my show there!) anyway, you can stop by and see my show @ california arts academy - severance location. 1401 n wishon, 5-8 pm.

reason 2 - post art hop show @ tokyo. of course, rademacher will be there. but you know who else will be there? el olio wolof. i've compared them to a "pentecostal tim burton carnival," and i mean it. and, david dondero. don't know him? check out his music here. and, he's got a song called rothko chapel (i hearts mark rothko).

UPDATE: !!!!!! not really sure how i missed his name on the flyer, but nik frietas is also playing. he's a former visialian who has made it sort of big time in the indie scene. well, not sort of big time, but big time indie, whatever that means. there's a good article from the bee about him here.




also, this week adam and i will be recording episode too of the view looks good from here, fresno so expect a new post up over here on wednesday or thursday.

art hop, el olio wolof and rademacher

just wanted to remind or notify those that don't know, tomorrow (thursday) is jam packed in fresno for you and me.

first, there is art hop in downtown and tower. get out, and of course, come by my show @ cafe corazon. 5-8 or later.



then, go see the show of the month @ tokyo garden. el olio is releasing their cd, will be playing, as well as rademacher. and another band (i think it's either light fm or aspen hallow. or someone else.)



be at both.

post art hop with rademacher

not quite sure if i'll be rogueing or arthopping tomorrow night, or a little of both, or neither. but, i will be at rademacher's show @ tokyo garden.



now, this is another one where i don't know the opening acts. i do know that one of the guys in one of the opening acts, used to live in fresno, and he used to hang out at an old neighbor's house. i always thought him a bit annoying, but i really don't know the guy at all so don't take my word for it. anyhow, if that's not a ringing endorsement, i don't know what is.

but, i do know i'm going. got to help send rademacher out on their national tour on a good note.

art hop & fresno filmworks

today's the first thursday of the month, so it's art hop time. i'm not sure if i'm going though. i'd like to get out a bit, but heather has also been under the weather so i'm doubting she wants to. we'll see. i kind of want to get out so i can hand out promo materials for my rogue show. i'm also not too sure if i'll hit up the post art hop show @ tokyo. good chance i'll be there though. and there's a good chance i'll post the flyer here later.

tomorrow night, fresno filmworks is putting on their monthly movie @ the tower theater. i'd go, but i'll be unavailble. anyway, if you're in fresno, you should check it out. the movie is called the price of sugar. here's a little plot synopsis i nicked from the internet:

"Just a few miles inland from the tourist-filled beaches of theDominican Republic, hidden from view, thousands of dispossessedHaitians have toiled under armed-guard harvesting sugarcane, much ofwhich ends up in U.S. kitchens. They work grueling hours and frequentlylack decent housing, clean water, electricity, education or healthcare."The Price of Sugar" follows Father Christopher Hartley, a charismaticSpanish priest, as he organizes some of this hemisphere's poorestpeople, challenging powerful interests profiting from their work. TheVicini family which owns some of the sugar plantations on which thefilm was shot has filed a lawsuit against the filmmakers in an attemptto block the film's release. This film raises key questions about wherethe products we consume originate and at what human cost they areproduced."

shows @ 5:30 and 8, $10. totally worth it.

what art can do

art should inspire. art should move you. art should stir up things in you. every month, fresno has art hop on the first thursday of the month (they've just added a second night, too). the galleries are open, it's usually new exhibits on display, and i've been attending on a regular basis for several years. i usually enjoy myself, but often it's just that. i had a good time, maybe enjoyed a piece or two, but nothing struck me.

last night, something struck me. the work of linda kay papadakis

let me preface what i'm about to say by saying that i don't mean any disrespect to the artist. she was quite talented. technically sound. interesting choice of subject. but her work was some of the creepiest stuff i've ever seen.

the first two sets of paintings were portraits done in dark hues. the artist, in her statement said they were done to as a celebration of the people in a time of their lives. i totally didn't see them this way. to me, they were very dark, ominous. some of the faces almost ghoulish. again, i don't mean this to be insulting. just my impression. but they were still provoking something in me, which i appreciated. one of my fellow hoppers commented that they reminded him of a death mask.




the next set was of three young ladies. the coloring was much lighter, and maybe even more joyful. definitely warmer. the artist talked more of the process for this group than the intention, other than trying to view the paintings through the audiences' eyes. as i looked on these i went from creeped out to nearly disgusted. to me, these three ladies all had very seductive looks to them. but, they also all seemed waaaaaaaaay too young to be giving seductive looks. the more i looked at the work, the more my stomach turned.



again, i say these in the best possible way. in no way am i trying to insult the artist or the art. i wouldn't purchase these pieces because they're not really my style, my interest. but, honestly, these were some of the best pieces i'd seen because they stirred emotion in me. i could evaluate them simply on the artistic merits or technical qualities, and they were fine. there have been several times when i have seen very well done pieces on art hop. most of the time i see stuff like that. these pieces were great because they moved beyond just that. they moved me.

so, i take my hat off to linda kay papadakis

art hop tonight

i'm art hopping.

who's coming with?

post art hop rademacher

that's right, it's the first thursday of the month. that means art hop fresno. local favs rademacher will be playing tokyo. not too sure of any of the other bands. but rademacher is scheduled.



i'm hoping to pick up the ice age & rademacher ep's. must...complete...discography.

art hop + post art hop plans

a couple of photos to share before i...


(photos may or may not be added later. blogger is quirky and won't let me upload photos.)



tell you all to go out and see some art tonight. we're headed out to tower mosaic, then over to broadway studios, and then corridor (i forgot the numbers). nick potter has a show over @ corridor, which i'm excited to see. if you're interested, we're meeting up @ tower mosaic @ 6:30.

then, i'll head home, watch survivor & an office rerun. then, off to the post art hop show @ tokyo garden. malcom sosa solo set, el olio wolof, good times, great music.

post art hop show

a fire breathing dragon blows into town on thursday night. that's right, el olio wolof will be playing @ tokyo garden after art hop.

malcom sosa, of rademacher, will also be playing a solo show.

and a two other bands, one named myriad encephus, one named wheels of fortune.

it's only $3. you should go.

rademacher - post art hop show

gots nothing to do tonight @ 10? sleep is not an option. come on over to tokyo garden.

you will enjoy:
the sleepover disaster
rademacher
(i won't vouch for the other bands on the bill because i've not heard them, but mike from rademacher says they're good.)



and maybe your friends, will learn to be friends all over again.

a metaphor on life, a thought on el olio wolof

i was playing a dvd in one of my classes. we're talking about narrative, and telling their story, as well as seeing the relation to the stories around them. anyway, i'm using the movie the joy luck club, recommended by my wife (i also like using it because amy tan has fresno connections and i like showing the students that they aren't limited in any way by being here). in fact, i'd never actually watched the whole movie before i showed it a few terms ago. anyway, back to this story. we were watching the movie in class, and the dvd kept skipping. this was really frustrating, and it seemed that each time the class was back into the story, it would skip a little or pause. a few times i took the disc out and tried to wipe off any smudges or dirt. and even when it didn't seem like there were any more smudges, it still was skipping. so, i started thinking, maybe it's the player and not the disc. when i went home, i tried it out, and it played perfectly, all the way through.

this made me think about life, and the difficulties that we face. sometimes, nothing feels right. sometimes it seems like everything we do, all the attempts to right our lives, to fix things, just don't help. is it possible to live in the wrong "player"? this one we're in is misreading us for some reason, thinks that it should jump here when we say, 'no, it's fine, keep playing.'

now, i'm not saying this about my own life. honestly, i'm pretty sure i'm where i should be, where i want to be. but i was just thinking that maybe there are people out there that have just been stuck in the wrong set up. what do you think? it's not a super profound thought, just something bouncing around in my head.

can i make a similar metaphor about the jack on my headphones? i have some really nice headphones that i received as a gift (birthday or Xmas, i forget). and i love them. but, they don't fit in the deep well of the iphone. so, i've had to use the iphone earbuds that constantly fall out of my ear. the other ones worked great on the ipod but not on the iphone. but a remedy exists, a friend of mine who has these same earphones, and iphone, told me about modifying the input on the earphones. you just have to shave the housing on the cord a little. he had already done it on his, or maybe he had done it on a part used to connect to the car stereo.

finally, i went to the post art hop show @ tokyo garden. i was a little tired, and actually left just before rademacher came on. maybe it was the heat that sapped my energy. or maybe it was that rademacher never seems to be coming on before 1, who knows. don't mistake that for criticism. i love rademacher, and have enjoyed seeing them so frequently. when they make it big, i'll treasure the memories of seeing them in a packed, sweaty tokyo garden. but anyway, i did see el olio wolof. these guys are magnificent. i've seen them now probably five or six times and each time i am more impressed with the quality of their music, their showmanship and energy, just everything. last night they had the crowd in their hands in such an amazing way. people moving, singing along, dancing, just beautiful. when i saw them here i compared them to a pentecostal tim burton carnival, and i think it still works (if you click on that link, you can actually see some low quality videos i did of them). i easily dropped the $5 for their tour demo. it's got some of the songs from their upcoming cd, and some others. it's not quite the same as actually seeing them, but it's good, and it will hold me over each time i need a fix of el olio, until i see them live again. wow, that sounds obsessive. anyway, i can't wait until both rademacher and el olio wolof get their full length albums out. i know that they've both been on the verge of releasing them, so i hope it's soon.

oooh, one last thing. i sold another painting yesterday. one wednesday, when we were doing our set up for our art hop show, a lady came through the door wanting to leave a note for the artist that had shown last month. she wanted to pick up one of the paintings as a gift. i then identified myself as that artist. we planned a time that we could meet on thursday (i didn't have the painting there). so, yesterday, the deal was done. goodbye, asparagus.

july 5 art show

this guy has an art show this week @ tower mosaic. and, i lucked into hanging some pieces behind his work. so, if you're art hoping, please feel free to stop by. also showing are artists currently housed in fresno's juvenile hall.

thursday, july 5
1040 n fulton
fresno, ca
5-8 pm

oohs and aahs

i'm giddy with anticipation of my show tonight. i even slept in late this morning so i'm super rested. ball of energy tonight.
that's all for now.

super dooper surprise art show

so, it seems that i'm having an art show this week. ah, the benefits of being affiliated with a gallery. so, if you're in fresno on thursday, stop by 1040 n. fulton and see my art. one new piece, and a whole lot of other stuff. i've got 5 other paintings in the hopper, but none will probably be ready. maybe one. who knows. anyway, come by. we'll chat. and maybe someone will buy something.